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UPDATE: Mark Birighitti visits teammates, dentist

Tough Newcastle Jets custodian Mark Birighitti surprised teammates on Sunday morning when he arrived at first team recovery at the University of Newcastle.

Birighitti, who suffered a sickening blow to the face in the Jets’ narrow 1-0 loss to Sydney FC at Hunter Stadium on Saturday afternoon, spoke with his peers and members of the coaching staff at The Forum pool.

On Saturday evening Birighitti had over 30 stitches placed in his chin and lips at hospital.

The gloveman had three teeth knocked out and several others damaged in the incident against the Sky Blues, and visited club dentist Andrew Johnson in Lambton on Sunday afternoon.

Johnson commenced root canal therapy on the young shot-stopper, and made moulds for crowns to be inserted in due course.

Johnson will reassess Birighitti on Monday.

To his credit, Birighitti was in a positive mood at recovery and was thankful that he had already been cleared of fractures to his face.

No timeline on Birighitti’s anticipated return to competitive football can yet be provided by the club.